Cycle saddles



ll 4, 1962 H. E. KALTER 3,056,978

CYCLE SADDLES Filed April 14, 1961 if w E jg mmvron 17 9 HAROLD EIQLTER Z0 5 BY ATTORNEY.

United States Patent p 3,065,978 CYQLE SADDLES Harold E. Kaiter, Eiyria, Ohio, assignor to Troxel Manufacturing Company, Elyria, Ohio, a corporation of Ghio Filed Apr. 14, 196i, Ser. No. 163,150 6 Claims. (til. 297-195) My invention relates in general to cycle saddles and more particularly to saddles in which a generally downwardly directed post is secured thereto for mounting to a tricycle, bicycle or similar velocipede.

The invention is directed to means for rigidly securing a cycle saddle post to a saddle frame without requiring the use of reach members, braces, or similar supports prevalent in the prior art.

The instant invention constitutes an improvement over my recently issued United States Letters Patent No. 2,931,- 423 issued April 5, 1960, on application Serial No. 755,786.

I have discovered that when a one piece saddle of the type shown in these Letters Patent are slotted or apertured for the provision of fastening or post mounting means, the saddle has :1 tendency to buckle underheavy loads.

it is ther store a primary object of my invention to provide a saddle of the class referred to wherein the saddle is provided with additional strength or resistance to buckling.

A further object of my invention is to reinforce said saddle by providing an integral association of such strengthening means with the saddle.

A still further object of my invention is to provide the strengthening or reinforcing means in a saddle of the type referred to adjacent each section of the saddle which is weakened by the removal of a metal therefrom.

A further object is to provide a saddle of the class referred to which will be inexpensive in manufacture, composed of but few parts, but will be characterized by great strength and durability in use.

Other objects of my invention will become more readily apparent by reference to the drawing forming a part of the specification, in which drawing:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a saddle embodying my invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a saddle embodying my invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the saddle, post and securing means therefor;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the saddle, post and securing means in assembled relation ship; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to that of FIG. 4 but taken from a plane 90 therefrom.

Referring now to the drawings, in all of which like parts are designated by like reference characters, at l I show the improved metal saddle frame of my invention, which is preferably formed by stamping. The saddle as shown is preferably pear-shaped and has an upper surface 2. An upturned flange 2t} preferably extends around the entire periphery of the saddle and forms with upper surface 2 a channel-shaped opening 21, which is adapted to receive a suitable cover for the saddle, as will be more fully described hereinbelow.

A plurality of apertures, preferably 3, designated at 3, are provided in the saddle for the reception of suitable securing means for a saddle cover preferably formed of plastic leather or other suitable material, two of the apertures being in the cantle portion and one in the pommel portion thereof. The apertures 3 are shown as slightly countersunk, as indicated at 3a, with respect to the surface 2 to provide a better seating for the cover securing means.

3,055,978 Patented Dec. 4-, 1962 ice The central portion of the saddle frame is provided with a relatively shallow depression or recess 2a, as best shown in FIG. 3, which recess is provided with a lower-most arcuately curved portion 6 which extends longitudinally and merges upwardly in both directions into the upper surface 2 of the frame. The recess 2a is further provided with tapering side walls 7a which extend upwardly from lateral edges 7 thereof, the latter thus serving to connect the side walls 7a with the arcuate portion 6. A generally rectangular shaped slot 5 is provided in the arcuate portion 6 and extends longitudinally thereof for adjustable mounting of the flattened end 11 of post member 8.

In applicants novel construction, the areas in the saddle which are subject to the greatest stress are reinforced to prevent buckling of the saddle frame. It will be noted that applicants saddle frame, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2,

and 3, is provided with inverted substantially V-shaped ribs extending from an aperture 3 in the pommel portion of the saddle to apertures 3 in the cantle portion thereof. In the region of the depressed central portion 2a, the ribs 4 extend preferably parallel to each other, and the grooves define a generally V-shape.

It has been found that by providing reinforcing ribs in this manner, said ribs being continuous, initiating at an apertured forward portion of the saddle frame, proceeding adjacent to and on either side of the slot in the centrally depressed portion thereof and terminating adjacent spaced apertures on either side of the rear of the saddle frame, that the strength of the saddle frame is increased very significantly, greatly decreasing any tendency for the saddle to buckle or twist. As noted, the ribs have been located near the areas of least resistance, i.e. where the stamped saddle frame has been apertured.

The saddle post 8, F165. 3 and 4, comprises a preferably cylindrical rod having a flattened portion 11 at the upper end thereof. Flattened portion if can be achieved through a cutting or grinding operation and results in opposite parallel planar surfaces 10. The flattened portion is adapted to extend through slot 5. It should be noted in FIG. 4 that the diameter of post 8 is substantially smaller than the length of slot 5, thus allowing for longitudinal adjustment of the post 8 to secure the post to the saddle frame in any desired adjusted position and that rotational movement of post 3 within slot 5 is prevented due to the interfitting of planar surfaces 10 and the side walls of slot 5. Vertical movement of post 8 is limited by shoulders 9, as will be more fully described below.

A pair of generally rectangular, arcuately curved washers 15 and 12, FIG. 3, are provided for positioning and securing the saddle frame to the post means and are adapted to be disposed immediately above and below the slot 5, respectively, in order to reinforce the bottom wall portion 6 when the post is mounted thereon. The washers i5 and 12 are provided similarly to the recess 2a with rectangular slots 16 and 13, respectively, the slots being dimensioned to receive the flattened end portion 11 of post 8 but being of lesser longitudinal dimension than the recess slot 5. It will be noted that the washer 12 contains ribs 14 and corresponding grooves 14a which enables washer 12 to tightly abut portions of the ridges 4 in the recess portion of the saddle frame 2, the ridges 4 of the saddle frame fitting in grooves 14a of washer 12. Washer 15 is preferably arcuate and unribbed and preferably smaller than the washer 12 and as shown in FIG. 5 extends in width from a rib portion on one side of the slot to an opposite rib portion.

In assembling the post and saddle structure, the flattened portion 11 of the post is projected through the washer 12 disposed in nested engagement with the bottom face of the saddle frame, through the slot 5 in the arcuate recess and through the concave washer 15 overlying the slot until the shoulders 9 of post 8 abut against the bottom surface of Washer 12 and the predetermined adjusted position is attained. Subsequent to this positioning, the upper end portion of the post 8 is cut and swaged as shown at 17, FIG, 4, thus rigidly securing the post to the saddle frame.

It will be readily understood that after securing the post to the saddle frame in the manner set forth above, a suitable cover (not shown) would be provided for commercial purposes. This cover may be made of any suitable substance, e.g. plastic. Where plastic is used, the edge of said plastic cover is preferably provided with a beaded periphery which is adapted to extend into the channel shaped skirt portion 21 of the saddle frame and the cover drawn taut. It will be obvious that with the use of other cover materials, the periphery of the saddle frame could be correspondingly modified.

It is thus seen that applicant has provided a new saddle frame assembly of increased strength achieved by integrally providing rib portions in the saddle frame, the rib portions being continuous and extending to areas in the saddle frame of least resistance.

It will be obvious that numerous changes in the details of my invention can be made without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A cycle saddle comprising a frame and a post, said frame having a central recessed portion, said recessed portion having a longitudinal slot therein, said post projecting through said slot, reinforcing means associated with said post and said frame, said frame having reinforcing ribs extending longitudinally through said central depressed portion, whereby the resistance of the post and frame assembly to stress failure is greatly increased.

2. A cycle saddle comprising a frame and a post, said frame having a centrally recessed portion, said recessed portion providing an arcuately depressed surface having a longitudinal slot therein, said post projecting through said slot, slotted reinforcing means associated with said post and said frame, and frame having reinforcing ribs which are generally V-shaped extend throughout a major longitudinal portion of said frame and angularly across opposite sides of the cantle portion of the frame, whereby the resistance of the post and frame assembly to stress failure is greatly increased.

3. A cycle saddle comprising a frame and a post, said frame having a centrally recessed portion, said recessed portion providing an arcuately depressed surface having a longitudinal slot therein, said post projecting through said slot, slotted reinforcing means associated with said post and said frame, said frame having reinforcing ribs extending longitudinally thereof whereby the resistance of the post and frame assembly to stress failure is greatly increased, said reinforcing mean comprising a plurality of Washers, at least one of said washers having ribs to correspondingly engage the ribs on said frame.

4. A cycle saddle frame comprising a generally arcuately-shaped upper surface, said frame having a central, depressed portion, said depressed portion having a longitudinal slot therein, said frame being further provided with aplurality of apertures, at least one aperture being located in the pommel portion and at least two being located in the cantle portion, and reinforcing ribs integral with said frame, said ribs initiating in the area of and diverging from the aperture in the cantle portion and proceeding adjacent and on either side of said slot in said depressed portion and convergingly terminating adjacent the aperture in the pommel portion of said frame.

5. A cycle saddle frame comprising a generally arcuately shaped upper surface, said frame having a longitudinal slot in the central portion thereof, said frame being further provided with a plurality of apertures, at least one aperture being located in the pommel portion and at least two being located in the cantle portion, reinforcing ribs integral with said frame, said ribs initiating in the area of and diverging from the apertures in the cantle portion and proceeding adjacent and on either side of said slot and convergingly terminating adjacent the aperture in the pommel portion of said frame, reinforcing means associated in said frame, said reinforcing means comprising a plurality of washers, one of said washers having ribs to correspondingly engage the ribs on said frame.

6. A cycle saddle comprising a frame and a post, said frame comprising a generally arcuately shaped upper surface, said frame having a longitudinal slot in the central portion thereof, said post projecting through said slot, said frame being further provided with a plurality of apertures, at least one aperture being located in the pommel portion and at least two being located in the cantle portion, reinforcing ribs integral with said frame, said ribs initiating in the area of and diverging from the apertures in the cantle portion and proceeding adjacent and on either side of said slot and convergingly terminating adjacent the aperture in the pommel portion of said frame, reinforcing means associated with said post and said frame, said reinforcing means comprising a plurality of washers, one of said washers having ribs to correspondingly engage the ribs on said frame, whereby the resistance of the post and frame assembly to stress failure is geratly increased.

References fitted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 645,256 Garford Mar. 13, 1900 682,425 Ray Sept. 16, 1901 742,479 Newey Oct. 27, 1903 1,975,405 Pryale Oct. 2, 1934 2,931,423 Kalter Apr. 5, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 347,817 Italy Apr. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 3,066,978 December 4 1962 Harold E. Kalter It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correctio n and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 3, line 38,

said line 52,

for "and", second occurrence read line 7,

for "mean" read means column 4L for aperture" read apertures Signed and sealed this 28th day of May 1963.,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer DAVID L. LADD Commissioner of Patents 

